How Programming Languages Were Created

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

How Programming Languages Were Created — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

How Programming Languages Were Created — book cover — Wonder Inventions
How Programming Languages Were Created — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Erik dribbled his worn soccer ball through the narrow, glowing tunnels beneath the village. 'Hurry up, Erik! We don't have all day,' Alina called, her voice…
Erik dribbled his worn soccer ball through the narrow, glowing tunnels beneath the village. 'Hurry up, Erik! We don't have all day,' Alina called, her voice echoing off the crystalline walls. Erik grinned, kicking the ball to her. 'What's the rush, Alina? Tendai's workshop isn't going anywhere!'

Erik dribbled his worn soccer ball through the narrow, glowing tunnels beneath the village. 'Hurry up, Erik! We don't have all day,' Alina called, her voice echoing off the crystalline walls. Erik grinned, kicking the ball to her. 'What's the rush, Alina? Tendai's workshop isn't going anywhere!'

Page 2

Inside Tendai's workshop, gears whirred and sparks flew. 'Pass me the multimeter, Erik,' Tendai requested, his voice calm amidst the controlled chaos.
Inside Tendai's workshop, gears whirred and sparks flew. 'Pass me the multimeter, Erik,' Tendai requested, his voice calm amidst the controlled chaos. As Erik handed him the tool, he asked, 'Tendai, how do these computers even work? I mean, who invented the way to talk to them?' Tendai chuckled. 'That's a long story involving something called a programming language. It's how we tell computers what to do.'

Inside Tendai's workshop, gears whirred and sparks flew. 'Pass me the multimeter, Erik,' Tendai requested, his voice calm amidst the controlled chaos. As Erik handed him the tool, he asked, 'Tendai, how do these computers even work? I mean, who invented the way to talk to them?' Tendai chuckled. 'That's a long story involving something called a programming language. It's how we tell computers what to do.'

Page 3

'Programming? Like a secret code?' Alina asked, tilting her head. Tendai smiled. 'Exactly! And it all started much earlier than you think.
'Programming? Like a secret code?' Alina asked, tilting her head. Tendai smiled. 'Exactly! And it all started much earlier than you think. Come, Erik, I have something to show you.' Tendai walked over to a large, leather-bound book glowing faintly on a shelf. Erik's eyes widened. He knew what was coming.

'Programming? Like a secret code?' Alina asked, tilting her head. Tendai smiled. 'Exactly! And it all started much earlier than you think. Come, Erik, I have something to show you.' Tendai walked over to a large, leather-bound book glowing faintly on a shelf. Erik's eyes widened. He knew what was coming.

Page 4

The workshop dissolved into swirling light, transporting them to a dimly lit room filled with punch card machines. 'Welcome to the 1840s, Erik and Alina,'…
The workshop dissolved into swirling light, transporting them to a dimly lit room filled with punch card machines. 'Welcome to the 1840s, Erik and Alina,' Tendai announced. A woman with dark curly hair pulled back into a bun looked up from her work. 'I need to write instructions for this Analytical Engine,' she sighed. 'But it's so tedious to do it all by hand!'

The workshop dissolved into swirling light, transporting them to a dimly lit room filled with punch card machines. 'Welcome to the 1840s, Erik and Alina,' Tendai announced. A woman with dark curly hair pulled back into a bun looked up from her work. 'I need to write instructions for this Analytical Engine,' she sighed. 'But it's so tedious to do it all by hand!'

Page 5

'Who are you?' Ada asked, peering at them with curiosity. Tendai stepped forward. 'We are travelers from the future, here to learn from your brilliance, Ms.
'Who are you?' Ada asked, peering at them with curiosity. Tendai stepped forward. 'We are travelers from the future, here to learn from your brilliance, Ms. Lovelace. I believe you are writing the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine?' Ada nodded, a hint of frustration in her voice. 'Indeed, but it's such a slow process! 'As Da Vinci said, 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication', which is what is needed here.'

'Who are you?' Ada asked, peering at them with curiosity. Tendai stepped forward. 'We are travelers from the future, here to learn from your brilliance, Ms. Lovelace. I believe you are writing the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine?' Ada nodded, a hint of frustration in her voice. 'Indeed, but it's such a slow process! 'As Da Vinci said, 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication', which is what is needed here.'

Page 6

Erik examined the punch cards. 'So, each hole tells the machine what to do?' Ada confirmed. 'Precisely. But imagine if we had a way to write more complex…
Erik examined the punch cards. 'So, each hole tells the machine what to do?' Ada confirmed. 'Precisely. But imagine if we had a way to write more complex instructions, a language the machine truly understands.' Tendai added, 'That's what later programmers would create. By the 1950s, languages like FORTRAN and COBOL allowed scientists and businesses to automate complex calculations. In fact, IBM's FORTRAN helped them generate 1 billion in revenue by 1962!'

Erik examined the punch cards. 'So, each hole tells the machine what to do?' Ada confirmed. 'Precisely. But imagine if we had a way to write more complex instructions, a language the machine truly understands.' Tendai added, 'That's what later programmers would create. By the 1950s, languages like FORTRAN and COBOL allowed scientists and businesses to automate complex calculations. In fact, IBM's FORTRAN helped them generate 1 billion in revenue by 1962!'

Page 7

'Imagine,' Erik said, scribbling in his notebook, 'being able to tell a computer exactly what you want it to do.' He paused.
'Imagine,' Erik said, scribbling in his notebook, 'being able to tell a computer exactly what you want it to do.' He paused. 'But it must have been so hard to invent those first languages.' Tendai nodded. 'It took years of trial and error. Then, in the late 20th century, languages like C and Java made programming even more powerful. Did you know the Java platform alone helped generate over 266 Billion in Revenue worldwide in 2021?' Ada smiled, 'Progress indeed!'

'Imagine,' Erik said, scribbling in his notebook, 'being able to tell a computer exactly what you want it to do.' He paused. 'But it must have been so hard to invent those first languages.' Tendai nodded. 'It took years of trial and error. Then, in the late 20th century, languages like C and Java made programming even more powerful. Did you know the Java platform alone helped generate over 266 Billion in Revenue worldwide in 2021?' Ada smiled, 'Progress indeed!'

Page 8

Suddenly, the room began to shimmer. 'It's time to go,' Tendai announced, glancing at the swirling vortex of light. 'But remember, Erik, the language you use…
Suddenly, the room began to shimmer. 'It's time to go,' Tendai announced, glancing at the swirling vortex of light. 'But remember, Erik, the language you use isn't as important as the problem you're trying to solve.' Erik, remembering Ada's earlier frustration, had an idea. He grabbed a blank punch card and quickly etched a simple set of instructions: a program to automate a repetitive calculation Ada was struggling with.

Suddenly, the room began to shimmer. 'It's time to go,' Tendai announced, glancing at the swirling vortex of light. 'But remember, Erik, the language you use isn't as important as the problem you're trying to solve.' Erik, remembering Ada's earlier frustration, had an idea. He grabbed a blank punch card and quickly etched a simple set of instructions: a program to automate a repetitive calculation Ada was struggling with.

Page 9

Back in Tendai's workshop, Erik exclaimed, 'Wow! I can't believe I met Ada Lovelace!' Alina, who had been quietly observing, chimed in, 'So, everything we do on…
Back in Tendai's workshop, Erik exclaimed, 'Wow! I can't believe I met Ada Lovelace!' Alina, who had been quietly observing, chimed in, 'So, everything we do on our tablets, all the games, the videos... it's all thanks to programming languages?' Tendai nodded, 'Indeed! From websites to self-driving cars, it's all code. Did you know the global software market is worth over 600 billion today?'

Back in Tendai's workshop, Erik exclaimed, 'Wow! I can't believe I met Ada Lovelace!' Alina, who had been quietly observing, chimed in, 'So, everything we do on our tablets, all the games, the videos... it's all thanks to programming languages?' Tendai nodded, 'Indeed! From websites to self-driving cars, it's all code. Did you know the global software market is worth over 600 billion today?'

Page 10

How Programming Languages Were Created — page 10 illustration — Wonder Inventions
How Programming Languages Were Created — page 10 illustration — Wonder Inventions

Erik grinned and grabbed his soccer ball. 'I'm going to try to write a program to make this ball kick itself!' He paused at the tunnel entrance. 'You know,' he said, 'it reminds me of what Nelson Mandela said, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.' Understanding code is the ultimate key to making things happen.' He raced off down the tunnel, Alina hot on his heels. 'Wait for me!'

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

Questions and answers

Questions and answers about How Programming Languages Were Created

Read Wonder Inventions on your phone

Wonder Inventions is available on Android. Get Wonder Inventions on Google Play.

More Wonder Inventions stories

All Wonder Inventions stories · Open the library